Minnesota

PROFESSIONAL BIO

Mr. Drews earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1994, and has since expanded his engineering experience and knowledge base to include gas, mechanical, and plumbing systems, as well as overall building construction. This would include analysis of moisture intrusion related issues, damages associated with storm or seismic induced circumstances, wind and hail, structural analysis, and construction related defects or exterior building envelope related issues. He began his career in consulting and forensic engineering in 2002 with a local firm in the Kansas City area. He maintains the designation of Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator (CFEI) with the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) since 2004 and has numerous experiences in court related testimony. He also maintains licenses as a Professional Engineer in multiple states.

PROFESSIONAL BIO

Ken has been in the fire service since 1980, having served on three fire departments in Nebraska and attaining the rank of fire chief. He began his fire investigation career with the Nebraska State Fire Marshalï¿½s Office in 1985 and spent seventeen years with that agency, attaining the rank of investigator. In his career, he has investigated more than 4,300 fires, has testified in more than seventy criminal and civil cases in four states and has become nationally certified as a fire and explosion investigator. He has continued his investigation career in the private sector since 2002. Licensed Private Investigator in Iowa and Kansas.

PROFESSIONAL BIO

Mark Sloup earned his Associates of Applied Science Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Southeast Community College in 2003. Mark began his career with the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office in 2003 where he performed Life Safety Code inspections before spending nearly eleven years as an investigator with the agency. Mark earned his Nebraska Law Enforcement Certification in 2006 and has since conducted nearly eight hundred fire and explosion scene investigations. Mark has testified in numerous Nebraska Criminal Court cases. Mark is a National and Nebraska Chapter member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI). Mark is also a Licensed Private Investigator in Iowa.

PROFESSIONAL BIO

Lonn Abeltins is the President and Senior Fire Investigator with IFIC. He has over 33 years experience and has conducted over 4,500 Origin & Cause investigations. Lonn is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, as well as a Certified Fire Specialist. He also holds a degree in Fire Science Technology. Lonn has testified as an expert in both federal criminal and civil courts, as well as in various state courts throughout the Midwest. Licensed Private Investigator in Iowa.

PROFESSIONAL BIO

Ken has been in the fire service since 1980, having served on three fire departments in Nebraska and attaining the rank of fire chief. He began his fire investigation career with the Nebraska State Fire Marshalï¿½s Office in 1985 and spent seventeen years with that agency, attaining the rank of investigator. In his career, he has investigated more than 4,300 fires, has testified in more than seventy criminal and civil cases in four states and has become nationally certified as a fire and explosion investigator. He has continued his investigation career in the private sector since 2002. Licensed Private Investigator in Iowa and Kansas.

PROFESSIONAL BIO

Gary Hong is a Professional Electrical Engineer and has been involved in Forensic Engineering since 1999. Gary received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska. Gary has a diverse amount of forensic experience including electrical fire /explosion investigation, product failure analysis, interpreting electrical code issues, product testing, and reviewing of engineering protocols and processes. Gary also teaches an advanced forensic electrical investigations class for the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s office.

PROFESSIONAL BIO

Licensed Private Investigator in Iowa.
Chelsea Sawyers is certified in Smartphone Forensics and Cellular Technology and handles the cell phone investigations for IFIC. She performs cellular data extractions on smartphones and maps cellular phone records as received from cell phone providers. Chelsea is the Evidence Technician and handles entering, billing, disposal authorizations and overseeing inspections when needed. Chelsea is also a licensed private investigator in Iowa.

PROFESSIONAL BIO

Cory specializes in the area of fire origin and cause investigation. He began his career in the fire service 20 years ago as a volunteer firefighter. He then followed his passion for the fire service to become a full time career firefighter in 2003. Cory worked to the rank of Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal and has been conducting fire investigations for over ten years.
Cory has earned an Associate of Science Degree in Fire Science and a Bachelor of Science Fire Administration/Fire Investigation from Columbia Southern University. He is a Certified Fire Investigator with the IAAI and an Iowa certified peace officer completing the academy in the 255th class in 2014.
Cory has conducted over 250 fire investigations and has testified in multiple criminal court cases. Cory is a board member with the Iowa Chapter of the IAAI and is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI).

BRET DESH

FAA DRONE PILOT, FIRE I
NVESTIGATOR ASSISTANT,
CFEI CANDIDATE

CV

Three Things

I’m a huge nerd. If it’s a Sci-fi or pop culture reference,

I’ll probably get it!
I’m endlessly curious. I enjoy knowing WHY things are the way

they are, and seeing how they work!
I have been around the fire service my entire life. The last

time I counted, there were 36 members of my family somehow

involved in the fire service.

Where can we find you when you aren’t conducting investigations?

Doing one of my many hobbies. (There are way to many to list
here!)

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

I would want to channel my inner Poseidon and have the power to
control water. It would make the whole firefighting thing way
easier; fire wouldn’t stand a chance!

Professional Bio

Bret earned his Associates Degree in Fire Science from Hutchinson Community College in 2009. He has served as a Firefighter/Paramedic in the City of Papillion, Nebraska since 2014, attaining the rank of Fire Apparatus Engineer. He is NAFI Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and an IAAI Fire Investigation Technician. He holds certifications in Firefighter I & II, Fire Service Instructor, and Hazardous Materials. Bret is licensed as a Part 107 Remote Pilot by the Federal Aviation Administration and is an experienced aerial photographer. Bret is a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Bret is a licensed Private Investigator in Iowa

IN BUSINESS SINCE 2007

36 FIRES INVESTIGATED

BRET DESH

FAA DRONE PILOT,
FIRE INVESTIGATOR
ASSISTANT,
CFEI CANDIDATE

CV

Three Things

I’m a huge nerd. If it’s a Sci-fi or pop culture reference,
I’ll probably get it!
I’m endlessly curious. I enjoy knowing WHY things are the way
they are, and seeing how they work!
I have been around the fire service my entire life. The last
time I counted, there were 36 members of my family somehow
involved in the fire service.

Where can we find you when you aren’t conducting investigations?

Doing one of my many hobbies. (There are way to many to list
here!)

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

I would want to channel my inner Poseidon and have the power to
control water. It would make the whole firefighting thing way
easier; fire wouldn’t stand a chance!

Professional Bio

Bret earned his Associates Degree in Fire Science from Hutchinson Community College in 2009. He has served as a Firefighter/Paramedic in the City of Papillion, Nebraska since 2014, attaining the rank of Fire Apparatus Engineer. He is NAFI Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and an IAAI Fire Investigation Technician. He holds certifications in Firefighter I & II, Fire Service Instructor, and Hazardous Materials. Bret is licensed as a Part 107 Remote Pilot by the Federal Aviation Administration and is an experienced aerial photographer. Bret is a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Bret is a licensed Private Investigator in Iowa

IN BUSINESS SINCE 2007

36 FIRES INVESTIGATED

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